Automatic feed-regulator for steam-boilers.



No. 703,757. Patented July I, I902.

- J. s. v. BICKFORD.

AUTOMATIC FEED REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS,

(Application filed Max. 7 1902.) (No Model.)

HH I I m E nu 7- N l E m v1,III/11111111111111!!!1111/1/11II/III/l/I/I/IIIIII/II/III/III/II/I/l/I/I/III/11111I/n muuun-I-mu Yl/I ZI/I/III/IIIIII/IIIIIIIII/IIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/II/I/ III/IIIII/II/I/l/IIIIIIIIIII/In nwwss s 1; rwmzar W )4 Skew m.

m: umzms PETERS co. ihmoumou WASHINGTON, u. c.

NITE STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN S. V. BICKFORD, O F CAMBORNE, ENGLAND.

srnormcn'rzon forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,757, dated July 1, 1902. Application filed March '7, 1902. fierial No. 97,024. (No model.)

To (0Z5 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SOLOMON VIvIAN BICKFORD, a citizen of England, residing at Oamborne,in the coun ty of OornWall,England, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Feed-Regulator for Steam-Boilers, (for which I have applied for a patentin Great Britain, dated August 15, 1901, NO. 16,410,) ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic feedregulator for steam-boilers, being an apparatus by which a valve is automatically moved, so as to allow feed-water'to enter a boiler when the water in the boiler sinks below the normal level and to stop the supply when the' boiler-water rises above the normal level, as I shall describe, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical section of apparatus according to my invention. I

To the boiler a, at about the normal waterlevel, I connect by a pipe the lower end of a tubular vessel 1), which is formed with an annular jacket 0, that communicates at its upper part with the boiler, either directly, as indicated by the dotted lines q, or through'a feed-heater, Within the vessel 1) is an inner closed tubular vessel (1, and from near the bottom of this, which is closed, a pipe e leads to a chamber having as its bottom afiexible diaphragm f, which bears upon a disk'g, resting on the stem of a valve 71. The annular jacket of the vessel b communicates by a passage 70, provided with a check-valve Z-,With the discharge-pipe m of the feed-pump, the pas sage it having a lateral by-pass n to the space under the valve h, from above which there is a passage to a pipe 1), leading to the suctionpipe of the feed-pump, which being no part of my invention isnot shown, as it may be of any known kind, or instead of which an injector'may be employed.

The apparatus operates as follows: The vessel d, the pipe 6, and the space above the diaphragm f being charged With water or other suitable liquid, if the Water in the boiler is below normal level, as shown in the drawing, steam enters the vessel 1), and the liquid in the inner vessel cl is thus heated or partially vaporized. By the expansion and consequent increase of pressure transmitted by the pipe 6 the diaphragm f is depressed, sothat the valve h is held to its seat, in which case the feed-Water passes from the pipe or and passage 79, raising the valve Z into the jacket 0, and thence into the boiler until'the Waterlevel in the boiler is raised above the mouth of the entrance into I). The vessel Z7, and in time the vessel cl, being cooled by the fresh feed-water, the pressure on the diaphragm f is relieved, and the valve 72 rises from its seat, allowing feed-water to pass from k, through at and the pipe 19, back to the suction of the feed-pump, instead of passing by 70 to the boiler.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical eifect, I claim- An automatic feed-regulator for a steam- .boiler comprising a vessel communicating at its bottom with the boiler at the normal Water-level, and having a jacket-communicating with the boiler and through a checkvalve with the feed-pipe, Within the said vessel an inner vessel communicating with a space covered by a flexible diaphragm bearing upon the stem of a valve situated in a bypass to the suction .of the feed, arranged and operating substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand'in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. V. BIOKFORD.

Witnesses:

TITO BECHERINE, JOHN BARNARD. 

